your professional ability depends on your inservice or continuing edcation in I.V. skills. Your best bet is to call your state board and simply ask can I flush picc lines? I have on two occasions called and been told ,if you have practiced the skill, the you are required to continue the skill. This goes for blood, plasma, lipids,hyperelimation,and etc.

first i would check with your state board, this can be done online in most states, to see what lpn/lvn's can legally do concerning iv's and picc lines. calling would probably get you a faster response as you would not have to read through a bunch of laws to find your answer. most states do not allow us to flush or do anything with picc lines other than maintain the fluids, and there are catches to this as well. certain fluids can only be maintained by rn's, such as those containing medications, etc. hope this helps! happy hunting!

you need to check with your state board of nursing because it is decided by your board in the state you practice. you do not remove the heparin. some picc line do not need heparin for different reasons. positive pressure caps or valved lines do not need heparin to maintain the lines.

I've worked as an LPN in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas. I did everything but blood--and had basically same responsibilities as the RN, but did run things by the RN(head shift nurse). Of course we had extensive IV training in school and I get close to 100 hrs. continuing ed. in every year. I think in most states it depends on your training and experience. I can't believe that in some states an LPN can't even give IV meds. Not doing IV work would have saved like a month in nursing school!! Lesson--check with the state AND your superior!

If allowed by your States Scope, follow your facility protocol. The NS and Heparin usually come in pre-filled syringes -- NS flush, then med, then NS flush, then Heparin flush. Of course mask, and aspetic technique

Sarah in Morton Grove, Illinois said: I've worked as an LPN in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas. I did everything but blood--and had basically same responsibilities as the RN, but did run things by the RN(head shift nurse). Of course we had extensive IV training in school and I get close to 100 hrs. continuing ed. in every year. I think in most states it depends on your training and experience. I can't believe that in some states an LPN can't even give IV meds. Not doing IV work would have saved like a month in nursing school!! Lesson--check with the state AND your superior!

I am a LPN at duke (which they call MLPN because we have extra training in med administration), and I am on the IV team there. I am able to do everything an RN does with the exception of pushing some classification of drugs, taking the role of charge, and insert PICC lines. I am able to flush and also trouble shoot simple picc issues/problems. The one thing that we here are also not permitted is taking out picc lines.

sally in Waterlooville, United Kingdom said: what is an lpn we do not have them in U.K.

OK An LPN is a Licensed Practical Nurse. It requires approximately one year in school, usually Vocational/Trade School. There are programs for high school students to get their LPN while in High school. These programs are very new. I saw them in Florida, where I graduated from a Techical School and got my LPN. In one more year of school, LPNs can take the RN-NCLEX. Every state monitors what LPNs can do legally. I am in NYC and do almost everything RNs do. LPNs make less money of course. Does this help?

SASH is utilized for PICC lines that are in use. As for the being flushed weekly this is done in conjunction with the weekly dsg change for PICC lines that are in and being kept patent while nothing is infusing through it.

10cc syringe! 10cc! and SASH or SAS. Permission for LPN's to gain more priviledges under their license is changing continuously. as long as your state now permits it, AND you have appropriate knowledge/experience/training it is part of your scope of practice. unless your facility protocol prohibits it.

I'm a lic. LPN living and practicing in Las Vegas Nv, I would suggest that you go back and look into your state laws because each state is different the nursing laws that govern LPN duties. In Las Vegas LPN do not manage PICC or Flush PICC 2nd PICC lines are never pulled out only by Certified RN's or Specialist definitely not LPN. Again check your state board of nursing and facility protocol. Good luck in your. Tiye'

Rudy in Union, New Jersey said: Anyone know about maintenance of a PICC line.

I have tried googling with mixed results.

Can an LPN flush the PICC? In any case do you pull out old heparin or just flush with 3cc of saline follwed by 3cc of heparin?

Your observations...

LPNs CANNOT do anything with a PICC line, other than perform dsg changes and monitor PICC lines! I have a license in 7 states, and have worked in all of them, either on staff or as a traveler. and even with extended certification, LPNs, still cannot, inject, flush or D/C a PICC line. I would suggest looking at you specific state board of nursing "nurse practice act", or send them an e-mail.

LPNs in West Virginia cannot do IV PUSH medications, but we CAN flush all lines and do. Using the SASH method for everything except a Groshong which uses no Heparin. We are not permitted to ACCESS a Mediport, but we can flush and set up IV lines. We are NOT permitted to pull any kind of line. As my collegues have stated here, check the guidelines for your individual state.

In New York:
- LPN not allowed to do flush PICC line. Not allowed to push IV medications. Not allowed to change PICC line dressings. Not allowed to hang cardiac medications such as Cardizem, Amiodarone, etc/ (even on patient with normal iv stick).

An LPN can practice within the "Scope of Practice". The facility you work in is responsible for giving you a job description and the policies of the institution. Some facilities require LPN's to flush Picc lines. You NEVER flush with a syringe smaller than 10ml. Flushing with 8 to 10 ml of saline followed by 8 ml of heparin use to be standard. Some institutions use saline only.

CJ in Shreveport, Louisiana said: NO L.P.N SHOULD FLUSH A PICC LINE YOUR HOSPITAL MUST HAVE STANDARDS OF CARE.IF IN DOUBT CONTACT YOUR PHARMACY.YOU MUST BE CERTIFIED TO INSERT/DISCONTINUE PICC LINES.

May be true where you practice, but not everywhere. LPN's with IV certification can and do flush PICC lines in certain states and facilities. LPN's still don't flush Swanz Ganz or other central lines, but I have flushed Picc lines for 7 years at the facilities I have worked in, in the state Commonwealth of Kentucky.

1st of all when in question call your state board. As an LPN we are not allowed to push any IV meds, which is different from hanging IV fluids and maintaining those fluids. As far as a picc line/mediport that is the responsibility of the RN. Why would you want to put your self in the position of a law suit for carring out a higher educated person responsibility. I work in a place where RN's are forever trying to get the LPN to take care of their patients. You have to protect yourself as well as your patient. So NO you can not flush a PICC line.

An LPN might do something that the other nurses at work say that they can do but in any cases that I know of, LPN's can not do IV push meds. It is best for you to check with your state as well as there should be a facility outline at your place of work.

As an LPN in NJ , I am able to flush PICC lines, I am IV cerified, I can insert IV's, I must be certified per facility, but it is within the NJ LPN scope of Practice, I can also hang an IVPB, I believe it can't be the first dose, that would be hung by the RN, most of the sub-acute units in NJ are staffed by LPN's with a supervising RN, it would be impossible for one RN to do all IV work

LVN/LPN in Texas, if they have received IV certification, can insert, flush and hang peripherial iv's. In order for a LVN/LVN to handle Central or PICC lines, the IV course taken has to include that specific training. They cannot insert or discontinue a PICC or Central Lines,and they cannot access or de-access a Mediport.

I was a LPN for 7 years and went back to get my RN. I have worked in Ohio and Texas as both and as many other nurses stated know your states scope of practice many co-workers and facilities will have to do things that are not with in your scope as a LPN/LVN but if something were to happen the board of nursing will hold you accountable for knowing your scope of practice. So be smart and always CYA.

As a practicing LPN for over 25 years in GA, the rules have changed so many times, but as of 1/1/09 the Georgia Board of Nursing for LPN's has NO list of what you can and can't do, it's left up to the facility. Care and maintenance of a central catheter, whether it be PICC, portacath, triple leumen, what ever, differs from facility..usually it's saline, medication, saline, heparin...we use saline 10cc's then 5-10cc's hep-lock..which is 100 units of heparin per ml.

LPN's in Colo. may flush picc lines, 10cc NS, do not use Heparin, picc lines have positive pressure caps, therefore do not use Heparin, Infusaports are flushed and then Heparin is used when ports are de-accessed. Hope this helps, but if you go state to state you have to check with the Board of Nursing because IV certification does not always transfer.

Linda Troiano LPN II in Grove City, Ohio said: LPNs CANNOT do anything with a PICC line, other than perform dsg changes and monitor PICC lines! I have a license in 7 states, and have worked in all of them, either on staff or as a traveler. and even with extended certification, LPNs, still cannot, inject, flush or D/C a PICC line. I would suggest looking at you specific state board of nursing "nurse practice act", or send them an e-mail.

You may have worked in 7 states but you have not worked in all states.Because in Maryland LPNs can flush PICC lines within the parameters of the nursing regs for "that" state.And be advised, that those regulations are sometimes amended to add or take away duties. So one needs to stay current with theses changes. All of those who answered this blog with the advice to "contact your state board" are the correct ones. You should be very careful about accepting advice from nurses from different states for those states are all governed by different regulations and guidlines. Definitely do not take any advice regarding someone elses instructions for performing a procedure that you obviously have not had any experience with. So, when in doubt, go to the source. Your local Board of Nursing. Its your license.......Protect it!

yenwat75 in Lutherville Timonium, Maryland said: You may have worked in 7 states but you have not worked in all states.Because in Maryland LPNs can flush PICC lines within the parameters of the nursing regs for "that" state.And be advised, that those regulations are sometimes amended to add or take away duties. So one needs to stay current with theses changes. All of those who answered this blog with the advice to "contact your state board" are the correct ones. You should be very careful about accepting advice from nurses from different states for those states are all governed by different regulations and guidlines. Definitely do not take any advice regarding someone elses instructions for performing a procedure that you obviously have not had any experience with. So, when in doubt, go to the source. Your local Board of Nursing. Its your license.......Protect it!

Thanks for your comment,which is right on target.LPNS can flush PICC lines in my state, and that is a fairly new occurence. We also must be IV certified yearly. As you said,the best source is each nurses state BON.